Hurricane Hilda weakens slightly
At 11 p.m., Hurricane Hilda was about 720 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 935 miles east-southeast of Honolulu.
This satellite image shows Hurricane Hilda in the lower right, southeast of Hawaii, and remnants of former Tropical Storm Guillermo northwest of the islands Friday afternoon.
Computer models show a wide variance in the projected path of Hurricane Hilda Saturday afternoon. Forecasters say it's important not to focus on individual tracks, but to pay attention to the official forecast track from the National Weather Service.
Hurricane Hilda weakened slightly late Saturday night, decreasing to a category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 mph.
Hilda is expected to gradually turn toward the northwest and slow in forward speed over the next couple of days. The five-day forecast, which has a large margin of error, suggests the storm could hit the Big Island and Maui if it takes a more southerly track.
"It is too early to determine what intensity, track, or forecast trend Hilda will exhibit by the time it approaches the islands. Therefore, the best course of action is to remain informed about the progress of Hilda," forecasters said.
At 11 p.m., Hurricane Hilda was about 720 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 935 miles east-southeast of Honolulu.
The storm was traveling west-northwest at 12 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.
Hurricane force winds extended 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds outward of 125 miles.
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"Little change in intensity is forecast through Sunday. A steady weakening trend is expected thereafter as Hilda transitions from an environment of low shear to an Increasingly hostile environment with strong westerly shear," forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said late Saturday.
The storm is projected to be a tropical storm northeast of the Big Island on Wednesday.
Surf generated by Hilda’s winds could reach the islands Tuesday or Wednesday.
